What to know
- Lubbock deputy hangs from overpass after semi-truck crashes into patrol vehicle
- Semi-truck impact pinned deputies against a barrier while helping a stranded motorist
- Bystanders rushed with ladders and ropes to rescue the trapped deputies
LUBBOCK, Texas — Two Lubbock County deputies are recovering after an incident that left them pinned by their patrol vehicle on an overpass, one of them left dangling over the edge, before a group of quick-thinking strangers rushed to save
their lives, FOX 4 reported.
According to the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, deputies Cavazos and Martinez had stopped to assist a stranded driver when a semi-truck crashed into one of their parked patrol vehicles, pushing it into the deputies and pinning them against a concrete barrier. One deputy was left dangling over the edge of the overpass, held only by the vehicle that struck him.
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Eyewitness video shows several passersby springing into action. Some ran toward the scene with ladders, while others worked to stabilize the deputies and wrap them in ropes to prevent a deadly fall.
“I heard a crash. Someone had hit that tree there and pinned those two against the wall,” Kohl Stephenson, one of the bystanders who helped with the rescue, told FOX 4. “We got a ladder and just helped out as best as we can.”
Both deputies and a civilian at the scene sustained minor injuries and are expected to recover fully, according to the report.
The crash remains under investigation, and authorities have not yet said whether the semi-truck driver will face any charges.
In this video, Gordon Graham explains how to manage traffic crashes to keep first responders, motorists and others safe.
